Maccabiah

Former Ireland captain Jason Molins has withdrawn from the Great Britain open cricket squad competing in July’s Maccabiah Games in Israel.

Molins, was one of three first-class players selected by manager Nigel Rothband last year.

Citing “personal circumstances”, Molins, who represented Ireland at the 1993 Games, said: “I’m deeply gutted as they’re a really good bunch of guys who, on paper, have got a team that can certainly win the competition.”

July’s Maccabiah Games remain on course to be the biggest of all time and defy the economic downturn, according to Jeanne Futeran, president of the Maccabi World Union.

Speaking after a three-day Maccabi World Union plenum, attended by more than 300 delegates from 64 competing nations, the South African spoke about how the organisation is attempting to help athletes attend by encouraging the larger delegations to donate money to help participants from less financially developed countries. It is believed that Maccabi America has given $500,000 towards the Jewish Olympics.

Maccabiah Team GB have selected its netball squads for this summer’s Maccabiah Games in Israel.

Ten players have been selected for the senior squad with ages ranging from 18-35. With more than 30 applications for the juniors, two trial sessions were held last summer and a squad of 12 was selected.

Maccabi GB have started preparations for this summer’s JCC Maccabi Games.

They are looking for athletes aged 13-16 to join the squad that will
compete in San Francisco from July 30 to August 9.

MGB plans to take a 30-strong delegation of players and managers to compete in boys Under 14 seven-a-side football, track and field, tennis, table tennis, golf and swimming.

The group will be headed by Valerie Herman and her partner Nicky Parnes. Herman said: “The Games are such a great experience to be involved in and we are really looking forward to going again this year.

Confirmation of the appointment came following a meeting in Buenos Aires with Asaf Stolarz, Maccabiah Sports Department Director. Elizondo has agreed not to officiate at any matches involving Argentina.

Maccabi GB has continued its preparations for next summer’s 18th Maccabiah Games by announcing a new and unprecedented partnership deal with Village Hotels worth in the region of a quarter of a million pounds.

The agreement will see Village Hotels offering complimentary membership of their state-of-the-art fitness clubs to each member of Team GB taking part in the Maccabiah Games in Israel in July 2009.